Two Phase Treatment
Two-phase orthodontic treatment refers to “Interceptive treatment” (Phase I) followed by “Comprehensive treatment” (Phase II). Interceptive treatment “intercepts” a problem. It is a specialized process that takes advantage of a critical period of jaw growth to maximize the potential for successful tooth alignment in the future. In some cases, correcting tooth and jaw positioning early on encourages more satisfactory dental and facial development during the teen and pre-teen years. The patient will be evaluated for comprehensive treatment (Phase II) once most of the permanent teeth have erupted. Comprehensive orthodontic treatment addresses bite concerns and overall smile aesthetics.
Who Needs Two-Phase Treatment?
Not everyone needs two-phase orthodontic treatment. At the age of seven, we can begin to identify serious misalignment issues, for example an upper or lower jaw that is growing too much or not enough. Children with severe alignment problems can benefit substantially by an early dose of orthodontic treatment. If left untreated, jaw discrepancies and overcrowding will likely get worse over time and may become too severe for braces to be effective. Early orthodontic intervention reduces the need for extraction and other complicated, costly procedures later on.